“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” –Genesis 12:1-3
Just over half of the world’s religious population traces their spiritual lineage back to one person. Christianity, Judaism and Islam all consider Abram to be, in some way, a significant part of their cultural and religious heritage.
Abram and his family lived first in Ur and then moved to Haran, which is in modern day Turkey. God spoke to Abram and called him to go to a new home where Abram and his wife Sarai would give birth to a “great nation.” It was an amazing calling and promise given to Abram and Sarai. When they departed Haran, Abram was 75 years old.
Few people are looking to start over in a new place at age 75, but Abram and his family are called by God to go, to move to a new land, and to have children for the first time in their lives. Abram and Sarai were willing to go and, because they did, they became a blessing to all the world.
Because Abram and Sarai listened to God, and trusted in God’s gracious invitation for their lives, they were willing to go. Setting out to find a new home, in a foreign land, at age 75 would bring fear to anyone. I am sure there was anxiety, but there was also trust.
God calls each of us to trust and to live a daring life. God’s call is not limited by our age or location. We are called to trust, even in the face of fear and doubt. When we are willing to go as God calls we will also be blessed and become a blessing, just as Abram and Sarai did so long ago.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
